Reddish egrets are one of the most fascinating birds to watch when they are feeding! They are very active feeders on a variety of small fishes, frogs, and crustaceans and the only member of the heron family known to employ a foraging method termed 'canopy feeding'. By spreading their wings, hunting birds cast glare-reducing shadows as they step rapidly through shallow waters to catch their prey.

Reddish egrets seem to prefer the red mangrove as a nesting site, laying 2-5 bluish-green eggs on a platform constructed of twigs. Breeding begins in December and continues through June. After eggs are laid, incubation is shared by both parents and lasts about 26 days. Juveniles are able to fly at around 45 days old and typically leave the nest after about 9 weeks.

Interesting Facts:

A group of egrets has many collective nouns, including a "congregation", "heronry", "RSVP", "skewer", and "wedge" of egrets.